Concrete Temple Theatre – The Bystander Project (adapted from James Preller’s anti-bullying book for youth, Bystander)

More than just a play, THE BYSTANDER PROJECT also serves as a vehicle for student discussion and a catalyst for getting students and communities to talk about difficult issues surrounding bullying. Concrete Temple teaches workshops to students on theatrical adaptations and storytelling. The play features walk on roles for student actors, and comes with a study guide to help foster discussion about the performance. Additionally, students are encouraged to give voice to their ideas concerning bullying issues.

Concrete Temple Theatre – The Bystander Project (adapted from James Preller’s anti-bullying book for youth, Bystander)

More than just a play, THE BYSTANDER PROJECT also serves as a vehicle for student discussion and a catalyst for getting students and communities to talk about difficult issues surrounding bullying. Concrete Temple teaches workshops to students on theatrical adaptations and storytelling. The play features walk on roles for student actors, and comes with a study guide to help foster discussion about the performance. Additionally, students are encouraged to give voice to their ideas concerning bullying issues.

Program Description

THE BYSTANDER PROJECT, Concrete Temple Theatre’s stage adaptation of Young Adult author James Preller’s celebrated anti-bullying novel, Bystander, was commissioned by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation in Fall 2011. Using traditional theatre as well as original music, shadow puppetry, and projections–as well as a combination of middle school performers and professional actors–THE BYSTANDER PROJECT tells the story of Eric, who after moving to a new town, must confront the complicated issues behind bullying.

Concrete Temple Theatre offers a variety of workshops to accompany our performances. Subjects covered can include performance skills, theatrical adaptation, puppet construction, and storytelling. Workshops can be tailored to your needs, ranging from an hour-long exploration to a week long intensive. Our one-week “Bystander Workshop” allows your students to perform the entirety of the piece for their peers. Please inquire to specify desired content, length, and price.

The Rensselaer STEM Ambassadors are an assembly of highly motivated undergraduate students focused on inspiring a younger audience to explore the role of science and engineering in society.
Rensselaer STEM Ambassadors focus specifically on basic and applied scientific & engineering topics that expand on materials being taught in 6 -12 grade schools.
Select Rensselaer undergraduate students in the School of Engineering and the School of Science, called STEM Ambassadors, have undergone extensive communications training to create captivating presentations and real life hands-on activities that focus on the exciting aspects of science, technology, engineering and math. Our visits demonstrate that being a scientist is not just sitting alone in a lab all day, but actually something that requires creativity and passion and engineers are problem solvers with the knowledge and creativity to improve our happiness, safety and health in this world.

Scott Ainslie is a traditional acoustic Blues singer, guitarist, historian and songwriter with personal roots in the Civil Rights era and a great affection for cross-cultural exchange. He is a powerful musician, a fine singer and a masterful storyteller. Peppered with humor and stories, Ainslie's teaching concerts help students and teachers learn to listen for the musical building blocks that continue to influence the music they hear all around them today - contemporary Rock, Bluegrass, Country, Gospel, Metal, R & B, and Hip-Hop.